Change or just leave alone?

[aking]

I recently bought a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 with 65000 miles on it. Since I dont know if the previous owner changed the tranny fluid is it two late to change it or should I be fine? I guess my question is based on my dad telling me stories about peoples transmissions going out when they have alot of miles on and then doing a fluid change. Let me know what you think.
Thanks!

 

[Warstud]

Your fine....Change it!

 

[JimPghPA]

Unfortunately your dad is correct. I have seen transmissions that go bad if the fluid and filter was not changed often and then the fluid was changed. Seams that the grit in the fluid helps those transmissions get the last part of their life.

As to weather 65K it is too late for the transmission you have, it is a hard one to make a call on. If the fluid is still red and has no brown particles suspended in it, and there is no burnt smell, then you might still be OK to change.

I like to do the fluid every 30K miles or sooner.

I am not a trany re-builder and never worked at a trany shop, just speaking from experience. Maybe someone with more of a transmission background will have a better idea about if 65K without a fluid and filter change is now too late to change.

 

[mva]

Originally Posted By: Warstud
Your fine....Change it!


+1

If changing the fluid causes problems it was on its last leg anyway.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
Unfortunately your dad is correct. I have seen transmissions that go bad if the fluid and filter was not changed often and then the fluid was changed. Seams that the grit in the fluid helps those transmissions get the last part of their life.

As to weather 65K it is too late for the transmission you have, it is a hard one to make a call on. If the fluid is still red and has no brown particles suspended in it, and there is no burnt smell, then you might still be OK to change.

I like to do the fluid every 30K miles or sooner.

I am not a trany re-builder and never worked at a trany shop, just speaking from experience. Maybe someone with more of a transmission background will have a better idea about if 65K without a fluid and filter change is now too late to change.

The recommended interval for +4 is 60k for severe service and 150k for normal. +4 turns brown very quickly, and is normal, per Chrysler's info. So yes, it is safe to change the fluid.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Change it...

 

[Mau]

Change it but don't do a coolant line drain and flush. Just drain it, fill it drive for a week then drain and drop the pan.

This is what I did with my maxima, tranny fluid was quite dark even black ish first drain. Filled her up drove a week then drained, dropped pan cleaned it up and put new filter (more like a strainer) and bolted it back up.

Planning to do another drain and fill next time im under there. Nissan was kind enough to include a drain bolt and the ability to drop the pan where as my honda's only have a drain bolt and a lot of other manufacturers provide only pan no drain bolt.

 

[MysticGold04]

Yup, I'd definitely change it. When I bought the Highlander in my sig with 75,000 miles the fluid was slightly brown. I had a tranny shop service it, all they did was change the filter and add fluid. Several thousand miles later I did a cooler line flush and all is still well with it. Its about time to do another cooler line flush, and I'll probably use castrol import this time vs Toy T-IV fluid.

 

[nleksan]

I would agree with the others: drain it, which will get anywhere from 3/4 to not even 1/2 the fluid but that is okay, then fill it up with new fluid. Drive it for a week or two (aka a few hundred miles of as varied driving as you can), then do the same thing as far as drain, fill, drive.
Repeat until the fluid that comes out looks just like what is going in. This ensures that the entire fluid is being refreshed, not just what is sitting in the pan.
I would wait til 100k to drop the pan if you follow this.

 

[CharBaby]

Indeed, change the ATF even if it's cherry red. This way you'll know where you stand with this RAM!

 

[linkbelt]

Originally Posted By: aking
I recently bought a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 with 65000 miles on it. Since I dont know if the previous owner changed the tranny fluid is it two late to change it or should I be fine? I guess my question is based on my dad telling me stories about peoples transmissions going out when they have alot of miles on and then doing a fluid change. Let me know what you think.

I changed tranny fluid on my Dodge Ram 2500 @ about 65,000 miles, I think it shifts even better after the change.
So, I say change it!
Thanks!

 

[SteveSRT8]

Despite the advice given above Chrysler actually recommends as low as 30k mile severe service and 60k mile normal. I strongly recommend a pan drop and filter change FIRST so you can assess the trans condition.

Simply changing the fluid is not enough if you plan to keep it. And proper fluid changes do nothing to harm any trans in decent shape to begin with.

 

[linkbelt]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Despite the advice given above Chrysler actually recommends as low as 30k mile severe service and 60k mile normal. I strongly recommend a pan drop and filter change FIRST so you can assess the trans condition.

Simply changing the fluid is not enough if you plan to keep it. And proper fluid changes do nothing to harm any trans in decent shape to begin with.



+1 The fluid change on my Ram was done by the dealer, which included the filter changed.

 

[01rangerxl]

My roommate ran the original ATF+4 in his Liberty until 186K miles. It only got changed once the transmission started shuddering. The shuddering is now greatly reduced and it seems like it will be able to go a while longer.

 

[Donald]

Unless you are pushing your pickup to the shop, change the ATF. But if you have no history on the filter, it should be changed also. Install a Magnefine inline filter.

 

[Turk]

Yes, change it. Those trannies need fluid changes to keep running a long time.

 

[aking]

Thanks for your input everyone. I was thinking about changing it myself but I think I'll just have it done when I take it in. Don't really feel like getting drenched in atf! I'm going to do the diffs and transfer case myself though. I was thinking of going with Amsoil Severe Gear 75w-90. The transfer case just uses atf right? If so I was going to use Amsoil atf for that. Thanks again everyone!

 

[KCJeep]

65k isn't much IMO, change it.

 

[RAYSGV]

My diffs and transfer case call for GL5. I use Amsoil Severe Gear 75W90 in all of them. It works great. I noticed the difference almost immediately!